Privacy Statement

 

Your privacy is important. I’m committed to treating your personal information with respect, using it in a responsible way and keeping it safe.

I will make sure that information you share with me is…

  • used fairly, transparently and in line with legal requirements

  • used for clear and stated purposes

  • used in a way that is appropriate, relevant and limited to what is necessary

  • accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date

  • kept for no longer than is needed

  • handled and stored with appropriate security

What information do I collect?

I may collect, use and store any information you provide through my website, client agreement or in any other way. This will include information relating to your personal identity (e.g. name, age, gender), contact details (e.g. email, phone number, address, GP, In Case of Emergency), our work together (e.g. introductory conversation notes, brief session notes) and feedback (e.g. complaints, recommendations).

How will I use your information?

I process personal information shared with me to provide and operate the service and to comply with any applicable laws and regulations. I carefully safeguard any personal information I hold, and am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

I use a website hosted by Square Space - find out about their website privacy policy here. My website uses cookies (necessary, functional and analytic) to help it work more effectively. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser. More information about cookies and their use on the internet can be found in the Microsoft Cookies guide and on the All About Cookies website. I use Google Analytics to understand how to improve the service I offer - read their privacy notice here.

I communicate by post, telephone, text, email and other digital methods. I will note any requests to opt out of specific communication methods within the user agreement.

My user agreement will tell you how information provided within sessions will be used and that it may be necessary to share it with other services and organisations. By signing a user agreement you grant me permission to process personal data which you have provided to me.

 I will not share your information with any third parties unless:

  • you have consented to this

  • it is required for a legitimate business purpose

  • it is as part of our duty to protect yourself, a child, a vulnerable adult or the public

  • I am required to do so by a court or law or relevant regulatory authority

Where do I store information?

I will store any personal information you provide securely and control who has access to it. Hard copy documents will be stored in a locked cabinet and digital documents will be stored on a password protected external hard drive stored in a locked cabinet.

Your email address will be stored in a dedicated business email account and your telephone number will be anonymously stored in a smartphone. If you fill in a form on my website, that data will be temporarily stored on the web host before being sent to me.

At the end of our work together I will retain your information for seven years.  At the end of this period it will be destroyed or deleted.

I will appoint a colleague to contact you in the event of my incapacity or if I am involved in an emergency.

How do I find out more?

You can find out if I hold any personal information about you by sending a request to tina@counsellingnorthlondon.com. If I do hold information about you, I will:

  • give you a description of it

  • tell you why I am storing it

  • tell you who it could be shared with

  • let you have a copy of the information

Please be aware that I may withhold information from you or provide you with edited documents if legal exemptions apply.